Did you readrecently about MIT's Personas tool, that visualizes what the internet knows about you? The profile for my name looks like this (click for bigger):

Interesting, but what does it mean? I'm not quite sure. Especially when I realized it grouped all Brian Herzogs together.

Which reminded me there's more than one Brian Herzog out there. Of course, there's lots of us on MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn (but not me on the first two), and I'm following all the Brian Herzogs on Twitter, just to see what I was up to.

Occasionally I look myself up on WhitePages to remember past addresses I've had, and recently (?) they added a neat national name distribution map, to show where I am most densely populated (I'm the only me in MA). ZabaSearch links to a compilation of my past addresses - well, some of them, and some listed weren't mine (I know this is their business, but I was surprised to see it - it must come from Post Office Change Of Address forms?).

In the spirit of Me or Not Me?, I started pulling together all of the Me Brian Herzog information out there at herzogbr.net. Also, here's a few Not Me Brian Herzogs:

THE 99 THINGS MEME

1. Started your own blog.
I've been doing this for about two years, but my first website dates to about 1996.

2. Slept under the stars.

3. Played in a band.
But only sort of. I was an official member of the imaginary band No Rhythm No Talent in college, but I did also learn enough bass guitar to actually play in front of people. Twice.

4. Visited Hawaii.

5. Watched a meteor shower.

6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
I do give money, but I'm not too keen on the "more than you can afford" part - that sounds counter-productive.

7. Been to Disneyland/world.
My family took a vacation every summer together while I was growing up, and one year we went to Disney World in Florida. The things I remember most are the Hall of Presidents, Space Mountain, and the fountains where tubes of water jumped from one hole to another.

8. Climbed a mountain.
The tallest mountain I've hiked is Mount Katahdin. I started up Mount Washington once, but too late in the day to make the summit. Probably the highest I've ever been hiking up Bear Creek Canyon to the falls, above Telluride, CO.

9. Held a praying mantis.

10. Sang a solo.
Never in public.

11. Bungee jumped.
I've had the opportunity, but this is one of those things that would be fun to do, but not fun enough to seek out and pay for.

12. Visited Paris.
I'd like to go to a lot of places in Europe, and Paris is somewhere on that list.

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
Both the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Erie, and Lake Erie was far more dramatic.

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
I'm going to avoid the whole art v. craft discussion, and just lay claim to recently teaching myself how to cane chairs.

15. Adopted a child.

16. Had food poisoning.
Courtesy of myself, I might add.

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
Kind of like Paris and bungee jumping - I'd do it if I had the opportunity, but I'm not sure how short the line would have to be.

18. Grown your own vegetables.
I'd love to be self-sufficient, but have never had much success with agriculture.

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
See #12

20. Slept on an overnight train.
When I was in Great Britain, I took a sleeper from Inverness to London. It was one of the most enjoyable uncomfortable nights of my life.

21. Had a pillow fight.

22. Hitch hiked.
Also when I was in Great Britain, except I was in Ireland at the time.

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.
That's the best time, as George Carlin says.

24. Built a snow fort.
Many times - luckily for my brothers and me, there were a couple other kids on our street, and we all liked playing outside.

25. Held a lamb.
I've never held a newborn lamb, but I have sheared a sheep. Does that count?

26. Gone skinny dipping.

27. Run a marathon.
While growing up, running was always punishment in the sports I played. The longest race I've run is a 5K, and I came in fourth to last - but I wasn't in the least bit tired, so that's good.

28. Ridden a gondola in Venice.
This is higher on my list than Paris.

29. Seen a total eclipse.
I know I've seen partial eclipses, but I'm not sure about a total.

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
Oddly, more sunrises than sunsets.

31. Hit a home run.

32. Been on a cruise.

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
Growing up in Northern Ohio, Niagara Falls was within easy driving distance, and my family went their many times. Also, I really like the show Wonderfalls.

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.

35. Seen an Amish community.
Again, growing up in Northern Ohio affords a person many diverse opportunities.

36. Taught yourself a new language.

37.Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
It comes and goes.

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
I'll do this on the same trip as #28.

39. Gone rock climbing.
Indoor and outdoor.

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person.
See #38.

41. Sung Karaoke.
No way.

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.

43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant.

44. Visited Africa.

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.

46. Been transported in an ambulance.

47. Had your portrait painted.
But I have had my caricature drawn, and it's still hanging in my parents' basement.

48. Gone deep sea fishing.

49. Seen the Sistine chapel in person.50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
See #12